The Kansas Turnpike Authority has announced nearly 15 major construction projects for the year ahead, and nearly half of them are either taking place now across the KVOE listening area or will begin soon.
Bridge, drainage and paving work should wrap up this summer in a 20-mile work zone from just north of the Flint Hills cattle pens exit at mile marker 112 to the Emporia service exit at mile marker 132. This is adding ramp and parking improvements at the service area, drainage improvements and a pavement mill and inlay up and down the work zone. The $15 million project actually started last August.
North of Emporia, there is a $2.6 million bridge redeck and widening project at mile marker 143. This project just started this month and should end by Thanksgiving.
Drainage improvements are the focus from mile markers 151 to 153, or four to six miles northeast of the Admire-Council Grove exit. A $2 million project to reinforce box drainage culverts will start in March and end in December.
Another project in Osage County, 28 miles north of Emporia, will redeck and raise the Kansas Highway 31 bridge over the Turnpike. The $1.5 million project begins in March and should end in December.
South of Emporia, the KTA will redeck and widen a bridge near mile marker 100, three miles northeast of the Matfield Green Service area. Work on the $4.8 million project started last spring and should finish this summer.
Pavement resurfacing and parking lot surfacing is also planned from the Matfield Green service area at mile marker 97 southwest past El Dorado. This is a $17.3 million project set to begin next month and finish by Halloween.
All told, the Turnpike Authority has set aside over $40 million just for the announced area projects.
More information about these projects is online at www.ksturnpike.com and www.kandrive.org.
